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on wages and a #yxe story:*rocks in his chair* years ago, there was a businessman here in Saskatoon who I won't name but was pivotal in teaching me some lessons on how to run my company and treat your colleagues (I don't call them staff or employees).
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You never had to book meetings with him, or at least very rarely, you just stopped in. Just before Christmas one year, I was in the north end and thought I would pop by for a coffee and say Merry Christmas to him. I also had a friend who was struggling at the time so I was...
going to see if they had any job openings at his company.
After the usual pleasantries and bullshittery that all Saskatchewan people must do first, I asked him if he had any openings.
After the usual pleasantries and bullshittery that all Saskatchewan people must do first, I asked him if he had any openings.
He responded by saying they haven't had openings in awhile. I was a bit surprised by this, the company was well known here in the city, he was very wealthy, looked like things were going great. Why no hiring?
I'll never forget this moment in my entire life.
On his desk was a sheet of paper and he spun it around right-side-up to me, and slid it over. I scanned down a list of names and there were $ amounts beside each name.
On his desk was a sheet of paper and he spun it around right-side-up to me, and slid it over. I scanned down a list of names and there were $ amounts beside each name.
I asked him: well what's this? Salaries for your people? I don't get it?
He responds: No Justin. Those are their Christmas bonuses.
My mouth fell open. None of these bonuses were small. Some appeared life changing, at least to me.
He responds: No Justin. Those are their Christmas bonuses.
My mouth fell open. None of these bonuses were small. Some appeared life changing, at least to me.
I looked back at the list and took a random name that had a sizeable, what I thought salary, but bonus.
"What's this guy do?", I asked.
"What's this guy do?", I asked.
"He's a forklift driver."
I just sat in stunned silence. This forklift driver was making more money than many of the people I knew in the city working in tech.
I just sat in stunned silence. This forklift driver was making more money than many of the people I knew in the city working in tech.
I had worked hard labour jobs as a youth, and as an adult between tech jobs. As a steelworker. I knew how hard it was to make $15/hr and the late nights contract computer programming to feed the family.
I couldn't comprehend how a forklift driver was making this money.
I couldn't comprehend how a forklift driver was making this money.
He told me that when he immigrated to Canada the first thing he saw was someone hanging from a tree because there were no jobs, no hope and no money in his new neighbourhood. He never wanted any of his employees to ever feel the desperation of being economically depressed.
He also told me that he gave a "genuine and true shit" about his people. And he wished more employers would, that it sickened him to have people working all day in a country like Canada, and not having enough to feed their families at night.
His final piece of advice on that day: "Justin, treat them like fucking humans. Give them all you can. It will always pay you back and most importantly you will watch families grow and it will bring you more joy than ever owning a fucking Ferrari yourself."
And finally: "Now get the fuck out of my office and have a Merry Christmas." *big grin* </fin>
